FORGET Twickenham and the Guinness Premiership final, the true battle for glory this season will take place at Edgeley Park on Sunday.

The semi-final clash pits the current league champions London Wasps against Premiership leaders Sale Sharks.

For fans who disapprove of the play-offs, victory for Sharks will be a moral triumph against a system which has allowed Wasps to snatch the title three times, since its introduction in 2002-03, despite never finishing top.

Defeat at Edgeley Park, however, would be a bitter blow to Sharks who have occupied their spot at the league summit for six months and have lost just once at home, against Saracens, in 14 months.

Despite the risks Wasps pose to Sharks' title ambitions, head coach Kingsley Jones is happy with the choice of opponent.

He said: "We're pleased it's Wasps, the danger for me is that if we'd had Gloucester or London Irish at home - we might just turn up and think we can beat them. No disrespect to those teams, but I know the guys will respect Wasps, there will be no danger of us under-performing because we have to perform against a side like Wasps.

"If we win the match it gets Wasps out of the way. Facing them in a final is a tough prospect, they've got a lot of experience in the last four years of games like that, so we're looking forward to playing them at home in what is going to be a massive and tough game."

For Sale to deny Wasps a place in the final would be a major triumph for the Stockport-based side, who have flourished since the arrival of former French captain Philippe Saint-Andre and Welsh international Jones in 2004.

But Sharks have won just one match from four encounters against their High-Wycombe rivals and memories of the 43-22 defeat at the Causeway Stadium in the semi-finals last season are equally unnerving.

Despite this Saint-Andre, who has been nominated for the award of Guinness Premiership director of rugby of the year, has faith in his players.

"We have shown that we are the most consistent side in the Premiership, and when you look at the points we've got the best attack in the league and the third best defence," he said.

"This is a different competition now, but playing at home we have a big advantage and I hope there's a good atmosphere on Sunday and we can show that we deserve to be in the final.